Ipswich 3 Slough 4

Premier Division

Ipswich 3 Slough 4

Despite losing a game they should have at least got a point from, Ipswich can take heart from their performance on Saturday. League leaders Slough did return to Berkshire with a 4-3 win but there is no doubt that if Ipswich had been slightly more clinical in the circle they would have been the team celebrating the victory.

The game started with Slough making the running and Ipswich took at least five minutes to get up to speed. However, once the home team shook off their sluggish start, the game was very evenly balanced. The game then exploded into life in the 12th minute, Purdy Miller finding the back of the net for the visitors from a short corner. Jane Smith then added a second two minutes later but before the crowd could draw breath within a minute Ipswich were back in the game. Evie Van Poortvliet drove into the circle and unleashed a superb reverse effort past the goalkeeper. Ipswich were now creating plenty of chances and Emma Millar should have got the home side level but she rushed her chance after a Lizzy Aldous shot was rebounded by the keeper. The home side did eventually get the ball into the net, but the umpire had blown for a short corner a split second before and Slough breathed a sigh of relief. Then to rub salt into the wound Slough scored another goal in the 29th minute and Ipswich went into half time 3-1 behind.

With defender Lucy Gallagher feeling unwell, Ipswich had to make some changes to the line-up and Emma Lee-Smith dropped back into the right defender slot. Despite the changes Ipswich started the second half with a renewed belief and with Vic Sandall having an outstanding game at left half, Slough at times could hardly get the ball out of their own defensive area. Captain Becky Baker then gave Ipswich the goal they wanted, a great follow up to a short corner strike saw the score back to 3-2. Ipswich now could sense the visitor's frailties but poor decision making in the circle and shooting from tight angles saw the home side waste vital chances. Slough then did what they do best and hit Ipswich on the break, earning a short corner that bizarrely was converted off a defenders stick and the post. Ipswich were now up against it with time running out but the team were still playing some great hockey and cheered on by a large crowd the home team surged forward. Their reward came in the 70th minute when Lizzy Aldous deflected in a Van-Poortvliet cross. It was too little to late for the home side but their standard of hockey was excellent in the second half and if they can find the composure up front then they are capable of beating anyone.

Next week sees defending champions Leicester travelling to Tuddenham Road for another tough game.